Why is the 3DS Popular Again?

Here is the real simple reason. No subscriptions. No Ads. Its that simple. Really it is. I don't even have to log into steam. its amazing.

Something really funny is Nintendo's recent survey actually asks if people are playing games on certain consoles and the 3DS was an option while the Wii U was not.

I still miss dual screen portable gaming... it's so useful if you can put all your UI info in the bottom screen and put the main game on top. I was a big fan of that.

Another great feature of online play on the 3DS is that it was FREE. I didn’t know that online play was free on the system until around a year before the server shutdown - I can’t afford the online Switch subscription right now so, I really enjoyed being able to play Mario Kart online again and also visit other towns in Animal Crossing.

from what i know, the 3ds rose in popularity again back in 2020, 2021 or 2022, you are just a bit late to it, but you explained this all really well

It’s so easy to just close the 3ds and put it in your pocket till later. Even the switch light requires a larger pocket and I lost a thumb stick cover from not using a case in my pocket.

Literally bought one a month ago cause I finally have the funds to buy stuff I couldn't when I was a child

As some people already pointed out, the 3DS is basically a buffed up DS, and it still includes the GBA instructions, so you can avoid emulating GBA and just run the games natively as if you were playing in a original GBA. There's two ways to do this, you can inject rooms into the same wrappers nintendo used for the 3DS ambassador program using New Super Ultimate Injector in your PC, this generates a CIA file that you can install; or you can use custom firmware, open_agb_firm lets you load .gba roms to the GBA CPU directly. The only disadvantage over emulation is that you can't use cheats.

One thing that was actually good about the dual screen gimmick getting old with the 3DS, was that the second screen started to be used in ways that were actually better, mostly for being used for inventory or maps, or options. Having the main screen host the main game, using buttons to perform all actions and abilities, then having a second screen to manage the game, and being able to use the stylus in the menu, was a great use of the second screen. This sort of use was much more common in the 3DS. Compared to the OG DS where dual screen was still a gimmick, and lots of times action was done on the touch screen with the stylus. That can be fun sometimes, but is gimmicky. I'm a strong believer in having a second screen for utilitarian purposes, but not core gameplay.

Thankfully I found my 3ds a week before the servers shut down and the day it shut down I modded my 3ds

My husband bought me a N3DS XL back in 2017 and I played it for a bit before buying myself a Switch and becoming hooked to BOTW. I finally started playing my 3DS again in late 2022 and fell in love with the system. Now I haven’t touched my Switch in at least 4 months and have been predominantly playing games on my 3DS.

I still think foldable handhelds would be optimal. Not just because you can fit things like dual screens, but because it solves the biggest problem in my opinion: size! The New 3DS XL was bigger than its other models and could still fit in your pocket. The foldable handheld design means you can keep it at a good length to hold it in your hands while also making it able to fit in your pocket. It doesn’t really have to get longer, it just has to get thicker and even afterwards it probably will still fit in a pocket or bag easier. Of course there are some things to increase the power of a console that will inevitably make it have to get longer (eg graphics cards and stuff), but being able to put that UNDERNEATH the controller and saving space with the foldable design still keeps it consistent with size.

It's always been popular. Now that homebrewing is possible, you can play almost anything the 3ds offered

I never got tired of the screens!

I have to admit, I also am getting so much nostalgia for the 3DS. I had it a long time back when I was still in Middle School, playing Nintendogs with my best friend (hope she's doing well wherever she is now). Playing Animal Crossing New Leaf and developing a brand new place and meeting so many great people on islands (I will drop one name, I met this one really nice person on ACNL named Eloise and she was the nicest person ever). Playing New Super Mario Bros 2 and trying to collect as many coins as I could. The 3DS has so many fond memories I can hardly list here. I'll miss it.

In the next few years I hope we get a legacy version of the 3ds, revamping the graphics, reopening the eshop and making a few more releases for the updated 3ds.

For me the 3DS has always been a great platform that never lost relevance. See the Switch as great as it is, its less portable than the 3DS. Sure you could argue it can be used as a portable, but even the Lite model is bigger than the 3DS itself. And if you're like me and went for the full hybrid version of the Switch, there are only two ways to carry it with you. You can either put the screen in one pocket and Joy Cons in the other (I use a shell case to protect the screen btw), or put it in a case and carry it in a bag. The 3DS is ten fold easier as it easily fits into one pocket and protects itself with its clamp shell design. Its for this reason I tend to carry my 3DS more frequently than my Switch when I'm on the go.

The GBA issue is to do with SD cards over 32gb and cluster size chosen. You need to pick 64kb as the cluster size and then they will be normal.

the 3ds has been in my life since 2011, since i was 7, it grew up with me and i hold it so close to my heart. ive bought quite a few more over the years, i just love the system that much. im glad people are loving the 3ds again. it fills me with so much happiness, though i am sad that its servers have closed. but there will always be a deep love in some of us that burns on until the day we arent here anymore.

The switch’s built in home software and menus definitely lacks the charm that the 3ds and wii u had. And while it is portable, i almost exclusively play my switch in docked because the joycons constantly disconnect as if they were detached from the screen. And with online multiplayer games like splatoon 3, i rather have an Ethernet connection for the best possible experience. As a result of it trying to cater to both, it’s held back by its hardware.